Hello hello!
One more week as a missionary in Pombal. No I didn't get
transferred, BUT the huge surprise is that Sister Salazar did!! Yeah,
she's out of here. Going to spend her last transfer in Guarabeda or
something like that. My new comp. is Sister Alves, she is from Rio de
Janeiro. She's really fun. We are going to have a great transfer. Our
branch doesn't have a president anymore, but it is fine because they
are praying to know who they can call to be the new one. It is a bit of a
transition for everyone, but it is fine because God is the one leading
the church, not men. Who knows what will happen, or who will be called.
Right now one of the counselors in the mission presidency is driving 4
hours each way from Campina Grande to help the branch here every
weekend.
I don't have much time to write today,
but I will try to type super fast. I am now the only American in my
district here in Pombal. Me and 3 Brazilians, which will be good because
my Portuguese was starting to get worse because of all the English I
spoke last transfer. We got Valentine's cookies from the Petrie's and
they took us for açai last week. It was WONDERFUL!!! Sister Petrie has a
bunch of American recipes and ingredients to make delicious baked
goods. I am so sad they are going home at the end of March, it is the
best thing ever to have them around. They are the only couple in the
mission right now, but they are trying to find someone to come and
replace them. Sister Petrie
doesn't know any Portuguese, but Elder Petrie already served here so he
translates. Our mission president's wife Sister Hall totally has the
gift of tongues though and she learned the language while she has been
here serving. She speaks really well.
Sister Salazar was here for about 5 months I think. Carnival was
nothing here in Pombal. Tons of people just went out of town. There are
other areas in the mission that the missionaries can't leave the house
or that they go stay in another area for the week. Here we just worked
normal though. That is why there was like nobody at church. This week
was a little better. Pombal is smaller than Caicó though. We eat lunch
with the member's still and breakfast and dinner are on our own. Almost
all the same members give lunch every week. I feel bad that there aren't
more people here to feed the missionaries because it really is a
sacrifice for them to give lunch every week, but nobody ever complains.
The people are super humble here. I love it. I am so blessed to serve
with such good people.
I always just teach by memory and by memory really it is by the
Spirit, you know whatever scriptures or principles I feel like I should
use in the moment. We always plan ahead what we will teach the people,
but 90% of the time when we get there and start talking with them we
realize their needs are different than what we planned so we adapt our
teaching to them. I have been trying to get to know the scriptures
better to use them in my teaching more, but lots of times people don't
understand the scriptures we share with them so we just end up having to
use examples and personal experiences more for them to relate. I am
getting better at understanding how to teach people individually and
follow the Spirit in the lessons. It is really cool.
This week has been raining a ton which is a huge blessing! I love
it. I sent a picture of us on the porch in the rain last week. Also, we
went to the river last P Day and splashed around, but didn't swim.
Don't worry. It was super refreshing though. There was a lady there who
had just washed all her clothes and had them laid out all over the rocks
to dry while she started diving in to the super shallow water barely
dodging the rocks. It was way great to watch her and her husband swim
around like Amazonians.
Sis. Udy
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